Apparatus for docking a helicopter

ABSTRACT

A device for displacing an object on a horizontal surface, which can tilt and oscillate, along a desired trajectory between any two points. The trajectory is derived from a lengthwise motion of a cross beam, generated by a driving mechanism entirely independent of the cross beam and by a transverse motion of a cross slide on the cross beam, the transverse motion being obtained from the load component acting upon the cross beam due to a manual or mechanical orientation of the load itself. The orientation is obtained, as required, by a means external to the device.

United States Patent [1 1 Mesnet et al.

[73] Assignee: Etat F rancais, Paris, France [22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1972[21] Appl. No.1 294,002

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 1, 1971 France ..1..71.35383 [52] US. Cl. 244/116 [51] Int. Cl B641 l/l2 [58] Field ofSearch ..244/116,115,l14,17.17; 214/14, 1 BB, 1 CM, 1 B; 212/21, 10, 11;188/43, 42, 41; 269/17, 71, 73; 280/441 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Hosoi et a1 212/10 Feb. 5, 1974 5/1972 Mesnet et a1.244/116 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,479,123 3/1967 France 188/43Primary ExaminerGeorge E. A. Halvosa Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eric H.Waters et a].

[57] ABSTRACT A device for displacing an object on a horizontal surface,which can tilt and oscillate, along a desired trajectory between any twopoints. The trajectory is derived from a lengthwise motion of a crossbeamfgenerated by a driving mechanism entirely independent of the crossbeam and by a transverse motion of a cross slide on the cross beam, thetransverse motion being obtained from the load component acting upon thecross beam due to a manual or mechanical orientation of the load itself.The orientation is obtained, as required, by a means external to thedevice.

11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 51914 I SHEEI 1 OF 5 PATENIED5 I974 3,790.1 1 1 saw u BF 5 APPARATUS FOR DOCKING A HELICOPTERBACKGROUND 1. Field of the invention The invention relates toimprovements in handling devices for vehicles and particularly to thedocking of helicopters on a flat surface while maintaining a connectionat all times with the helicopter.

2. Prior Art In U. S. Pat. No. 3,659,813 there is disclosed a handlingdevice intended for the displacement of loads or vehicles in one plane,according to trajectories defined by the co-action, at selected speedratios, of two basic displacements located in said plane; thesedisplacements can be supplemented by an angular orientation of the loador vehicle with respect to the trajectory, the connection between thevehicle and handling device always being maintained.

The aforesaid patent is specifically concerned with a handling device bywhich a helicopter can be displaced on the deck of a ship from any pointto one of two predetermined locations within the range served by thedev1ce.

The helicopter displacement is obtained by the longitudinal displacementof a cross beam fitted with a cross slide; the latter is provided with acrossbar for the attachment of the helicopter. The lateral motion of thecross slide is associated with that of the cross beam in a speed ratioof k, or k. Consequently, the helicopter trajectory is made up of asuccession of straight lines, parallel to the longitudinal axis of theship or inclined thereto through an angle ta. The trajectory includesrotations at the points of change of direction to place the helicopterparallel with the straight course to be maintained.

The cross beam is made integral with the ship structure through twocarrier and drive carriages moving in two longitudinal pits. These pitsare located under the deck of the ship and each is provided with anarrow slot for the passage of linking elements between the carriage andthe cross beam. The cross beam drive on the ship structure is effectedthrough toothed gears which mesh with a rack located in'each pit.

Each carriage includes a motor supplied with compressed air, both motorsbeing mechanically synchronized through a synchronizing shaftincorporated in the cross beam.

A mechanical drive is actuated by the synchronizing shaft and controls,in the given ratio, the cross slide motion is obtained by means of aworm, screw-nut assembly. An unclutching system allows the cross .slideto be separately driven by an auxiliary ,motor when the cross beam isstationary.

The cross bar may be angularly adjusted about an axis corresponding tothe helicopter rotation axis, thus enabling the helicopter to be rotatedon its tires without slipping.

A vertical lifting device is located at the rear of the deck' to permitthe cross beam, the cross slide and the" cross bar to be retracted so asto be fully clear of the deck.

Self-powering of the cross beam-cross slide assembly requires supply ofthe motor during their displacement, this being particularly difficultin the case of an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic supply, on the onehand, and requiring the provision under the handling area of aninstallation of heavy and bulky material which is excessive for lowtonnage ships if the handling area is to be fully cleared, on the otherhand.

As the trajectory results from the combination in a given ratio of thecross beam motion and that of the cross slide fitted thereon, the devicetherefore requires a trajectory which is straight and predetermined. Theachievement of a device capable of orienting a helicopter so as to placeit at any course would involve the adoption of expensive andsophisticated devices, such as course computers and speed change units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide adevice which overcomes the above drawbacks by a construction in whichthe orientation given to the load (vehicle or aircraft) enables it atany moment to hold the desired trajectory, the cross beam being movedlongitudinally while the cross slide only follows the movement. The useof pits and mobile motors become unnecessary, thus affording anappreciable reduction in weight of the device. In the event that ahelicopter is to be handled on a deck or inside the hangar of a ship, itis possi- -ble, for instance, to obtain the desired trajectory by simplysteering the helicopter nose wheel.

The invention is directed to a handling device comprising: a cross beamcoupled with the handling area a cross slide including helicopterattachment means and freely movable on the cross beam, the displacementof the cross slide being effected by the thrust or tensile loadcomponent acting upon the cross beam; the component results from theorientation of the helicopter itself and, especially, from the steeringof the nose wheel by the pilot or a towing bar.

The cross slide may be braked, as required, inorder to avoid unduehelicopter slipping which might be caused by high amplitude movements ofthe handling area.

.A suitable braking device may comprise a set of multiple bladesprovided on the cross beam and adapted for being brought into contactwith a second set of blades under the action of aspring system.

Release of the braking device is obtained by a mechariical, hydraulic.or other appropriate actuation means. The helicopter slipping may beprevented by the implementation of any other suitable braking device.

The helicopter retainer comprises a cross bar allowed to follow therotation imparted to the helicopter and to limit said rotation to apredetermined value. The cross bar is equipped with dampers to attenuatethe dynamic loads exerted upon the mechanical assembly in the case of asudden blocking of the helicopter or cross slide.

The cross bar guidance is ensured by single, double or multiplecarriages provided with hinged pads which slide in very small rails soas not to impair taxiing on the deck.

Both sides of the carriage supports are secured to towing elementsconsisting, for instance, of steel strips connected to a driving deviceincluding winding drums and motors; the installation and power supply ofthe latter are such that said towing elements are penna- -nentlytensioned so as to prevent the effects of the deck movements fromaffecting the helicopter displacement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective viewof a device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the device,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cross beam showing the cross slidefitted with the cross bar support and the cross bar,

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the rails together with thesliding pads,

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the cross beam supportand carriages,

FIG. 6 shows the attachment of the cross beam to one of its bearingblocks,

FIG. 7 is a schematic arrangement of a braking device for the crossslide, and

FIG. 8 is a schematic arrangement of a shock absorbing means for thecross beam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawing there is seen a cross beam 1 whichis a rigid member each end of which is secured to mobile carriages Cthrough a vertical pin 4 serving as a hinge. One of the hinges 4 isprovided with lateral clearance in order to allow relative shifting ofboth carriages or to overcome snug fit tolerances.

Each carriage C consists of a core R, at the front and rear ends ofwhich are mounted yokes 5. Two pads 7 are mounted on yokes 5 throughhinge pins 6. The pads 7 slide on rails 2. The yokes 5 are connected tothe core R by means of ball joints 8. The pads 7 are fitted with readilydetachable friction plates 9 to ensure contact both in the vertical andlateral directions with rail 2. This arrangement affords an equaldistribution of the loads, a minimum space in height and an appropriateslipping despite unavoidable rail misalignments and distortions of thedeck. In addition, it allows the device to be installed on a curveddeck.

The pads 7 slide on rails 2 which are made in sections bolted to theflat deck. The rail height is less than 30 millimeters. The rail profileis best seen in FIG. 4 and is designed to facilitate the taxiing of ahelicopter without any risk of damage of the tires.

A cross slide 3 is movable on cross beam 1 via rollers 10 and 11 (FIG.3). One of the ends of the cross slide is fitted with a block 12provided with a braking device which includes blades 23 adapted to bepressed against blades or friction strips 13 stretched all along thecross beam 1. The blades 23 are coupled to and are actuated by a piston25 of a jack 24 which is subjected to the action of a spring 26 at oneside and to a brake release system at its other side.

In the rest position, the cross slide is normally braked, the blades 23of the braking device being ap plied against blades 13 under the actionof spring 26. Brake release is obtained by actuating the brake releasedevice, the control of which may be either hydraulic, electrical,mechanical, pneumatic or otherwise. In the schematically illustratedembodiments in FIG. 7, the brake release system comprises a hand pump 28supplied from a tank 31, whereby pressure can be applied to piston 25through a non-return valve 29 and an accumulator-buffer 27. Suchpressureis produced only when a slide valve 30 is pushed manually. Assoon as the operator releases the valve 30, the pressure is reducedbehind the piston, whereupon the device is again braked under the actionof the spring 26.

Cross slide 3 also incorporates a lock 14 fitted with shock absorbingsprings, and a lock pin of lock 14 is allowed to engage in bushingsprovided at intervals of every 50 centimeters, or the like, on crossbeam 1.

Support 15 of a cross bar 18 is coupled with cross slide 3 via a hingepin 16 extending parallel to the cross slide 1. The support 15 is eitherin contact with the cross slide through a damping device 17, the end ofwhich bears a roller, or with the ships deck through a steerable rollermounted on a screwjack allowing easy height adjustment of the cross bar.

The cross bar 18 is provided with appropriate means for attachment tothe main landing gear wheels of a helicopter. The cross bar is connectedto support 15 through a pin 30 integral with the latter. The cross bar18 is free to rotate within a quadrant with respect to an axisperpendicular to the ship. At the ends of travel, however, shockabsorbing means are installed to avoid impacts which could occur duringthe handling operations.

The shock absorbing means may be constituted by a jack 32 connected to ahydraulic circuit comprising a tank 33 which serves as a pressurizingsource, a springbiassed slide valve 34 actuated hydraulically under theaction of pressure P, and a gauged safety valve 35.

Under the action of pressure P, the slide valve 34 allows passage of oilwhich equalizes the pressure on each of the piston surfaces in jack 32.As a result of the swinging movement of the cross bar, the pressureincreases sharply on one of the piston surfaces, thereby producing adamping, and a return of oil at the other piston surface via the safetyvalve 35.

The cross bar 18 can move about a horizontal axis to follow the rollmovements, therefore allowing any difference in height between thehelicopter wheel axles to be taken up.

The driving mechanism for the cross beam 1 comprises four steel strips19 attached to the carriages C, and to four winding drums 20. The drums,located at each end of the handling area, are driven by pairs of driveunits, each pair being actuated by a hydraulically controlled towingmotor 21 and tension motor 22. These motors are equipped with hydraulicrelease brakes which are used to stop the system in the absence ofpressure.

The hydraulic system is so constructed that the steel strips arepermanently tensioned above a given minimum value in order to ensure acorrect winding up on the drums, while if the helicopter becomes motive,the translation speed is automatically limited to a permissible value.

It is also possible to employ another hydraulic system layout performingthe same function but including only two towing motors: one beingsupplied with a reduced pressure to ensure strip tensioning while theother acts in the opposite direction.

The device, in accordance with this invention, may be used each time aload or vehicle, especially a wheeled vehicle, is to be securelydisplaced upon an oscillating surface. It is mainly applicable to thedisplacement of aircraft on board ships; the transport of loads whichhave been unloaded by hoisting from a helicopter on a ship or on aderrick platform under heavy sea conditions; a ground based oscillatingor tiltable test platform used for testing, regardless of the limits,the behavior of wheeled vehicles such as aircraft, tractors, lifttrucks, motor cars and especially the adherence of the tires of suchvehicles.

In operation, the vehicle is oriented in the direction of the intendedtrajectory T, either externally by a manual effort as shown in FIG. 1 orby turning the steering wheel from within the vehicle asdiagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2. The cross beam 1 is drivenlongitudinally along the rails 2 by suitable operation of motor pairs 21and 22 and the cross slide 3 will move along beam 1 so that the vehiclewill follow the trajectory T. It is to be understood that the slide 3moves along beam 1 under the action of the force component developed bythe inclination of the vehicle relative to the direction of travel ofbeam 1 along rails 2. i

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatusfor displacing an object on a horizontal surface, which canbe tilted and can oscillate, along a desired trajectory between any twopoints on said surface, said apparatus comprising a rigid elongatedcross beam having a longitudinal axis, means for displacing said crossbeam on said surface at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe cross beam, a slide member slidably supported on said cross beam forlongitudinal displacement therealong, said object resting on and beingmovable on said surface and means on said slide member for attachment tothe object to be displaced to produce displacement of the slide memberin response to external orientation of the object itself on saidsurface, said slide member being freely movable along said cross beamunder the action of a load component applied thereto by the object whenthe latter is externally oriented on said surface in the direction of anintended trajectory which is inclined relative to the direction ofdisplacement of the cross beam.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cross beam is displacedat right angles to its longitudinal axis.

3.. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising braking means betweensaid slide member and cross beam.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said braking means includes amultiple blade brake comprising fixed blades arranged along the crossbeam and movable tightening blades carried by the slide member, themovable blades being adapted for being applied by spring action in abraking operation and released by the control of the operator.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means on the slidemember for attachment to the object comprises a cross bar coupled to theslide member for limited pivotal movement in a horizontal plane.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for guiding saidcross beam in the course of its displacement.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the guiding means comprises apair of substantially parallel rails, and carriages slidable on saidrails and mounted on said cross beam at the ends thereof, the means fordisplacing the cross beam being attached to said carriages.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein each said carriage comprisesa core having opposite ends, and pads pivotably connected to said coreat said ends and slidable on said rails.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the rails are profiled, saidmeans for displacing the cross beam comprising strip means attached toeach said carriage and displaceable within said rails, and means forwinding and unwinding said strip means to cause the carriages to travelon said rails.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for winding andunwinding the strip means comprises at least two automatically slavedmotors, one for towing and one for tensioning to provide sufficienttensioning of the strip means in any configuration of the object, thusallowing correct winding and unwinding of the strip means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising a hinge pin hingeablyjoining each carriage to a respective end of the cross beam, one of thehinge pins being fitted with a lateral clearance to allow relativeshifting of the carriages and to overcome snug fit tolerances.

1. Apparatus for displacing an object on a horizontal surface, which canbe tilted and can oscillate, along a desired trajectory between any twopoints on said surface, said apparatus comprising a rigid elongatedcross beam having a longitudinal axis, means for displacing said crossbeam on said surface at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe cross beam, a slide member slidably supported on said cross beam forlongitudinal displacement therealong, said object resting on and beingmovable on said surface and means on said slide member for attachment tothe object to be displaced to produce displacement of the slide memberin response to external orientation of the object itself on saidsurface, said slide member being freely movable along said cross beamunder the action of a load component applied thereto by the object whenthe latter is externally oriented on said surface in the direction of anintended trajectory which is inclined relative to the direction ofdisplacement of the cross beam.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1wherein said cross beam is displaced at right angles to its longitudinalaxis.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising braking meansbetween said slide member and cross beam.
 4. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 3 wherein said braking means includes a multiple blade brakecomprising fixed blades arranged along the cross beam and movabletightening blades carried by the slide member, the movable blades beingadapted for being applied by spring action in a braking operation andreleased by the control of the operator.
 5. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said means on the slide member for attachment to theobject comprises a cross bar coupled to the slide member for limitedpivotal movement in a horizontal plane.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim1 comprising means for guiding said cross beam in the course of itsdisplacement.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the guidingmeans comprises a pair of substantially parallel rails, and carriagesslidable on said rails and mounted on said cross beam at the endsthereof, the means for displacing the cross beam being attached to saidcarriages.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein each said carriagecomprises a core having opposite ends, and pads pivotably connected tosaid core at said ends and slidable on said rails.
 9. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 8 wherein the rails are profiled, said means fordisplacing the cross beam comprising strip means attached to each saidcarriage and displaceable within said rails, and means for winding andunwinding said strip means to cause the carriages to travel on saidrails.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for windingand unwinding the strip means comprises at least two automaticallyslaved motors, one for towing and one for tensioning to providesufficient tensioning of the strip means in any configuration of theobject, thus allowing correct winding and unwinding of the strip means.11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising a hinge pin hingeablyjoining each carriage to a respective end of the cross beam, one of thehinge pins being fitted with a lateral clearance to allow relativeshifting of the carriages and to overcome snug fit tolerances.